Best Cities to Start a
American restaurant Business
Data-driven rankings based on market demand, competition quality, and digital presence gaps across the United States.
1
Chicago, IL
145 American restaurant businesses
27
Score
4.2
Avg Rating
17%
No Website
37,986
Reviews
2
Jacksonville, FL
72 American restaurant businesses
25
Score
4.4
Avg Rating
29%
No Website
7,734
Reviews
3
Memphis, TN
41 American restaurant businesses
24
Score
4.2
Avg Rating
34%
No Website
6,807
Reviews
4
Las Vegas, NV
126 American restaurant businesses
23
Score
4.3
Avg Rating
9%
No Website
26,085
Reviews
5
Augusta, GA
20 American restaurant businesses
22
Score
4.4
Avg Rating
35%
No Website
1,162
Reviews
6
Atlanta, GA
76 American restaurant businesses
21
Score
4.3
Avg Rating
17%
No Website
20,210
Reviews
7
Baton Rouge, LA
23 American restaurant businesses
21
Score
4.1
Avg Rating
30%
No Website
4,098
Reviews
8
Detroit, MI
62 American restaurant businesses
21
Score
4.0
Avg Rating
19%
No Website
17,668
Reviews
9
Miami, FL
41 American restaurant businesses
21
Score
4.4
Avg Rating
24%
No Website
4,237
Reviews
10
New York, NY
116 American restaurant businesses
21
Score
4.3
Avg Rating
4%
No Website
26,310
Reviews
11
Los Angeles, CA
36 American restaurant businesses
20
Score
4.4
Avg Rating
25%
No Website
6,699
Reviews
12
Louisville, KY
67 American restaurant businesses
20
Score
4.5
Avg Rating
16%
No Website
10,922
Reviews
13
Wilmington, DE
31 American restaurant businesses
20
Score
4.1
Avg Rating
26%
No Website
4,739
Reviews
14
Phoenix, AZ
70 American restaurant businesses
20
Score
4.2
Avg Rating
14%
No Website
12,538
Reviews
15
Cincinnati, OH
45 American restaurant businesses
20
Score
4.5
Avg Rating
20%
No Website
8,014
Reviews
16
Indianapolis, IN
83 American restaurant businesses
20
Score
4.5
Avg Rating
10%
No Website
15,002
Reviews
17
Kansas City, MO
60 American restaurant businesses
19
Score
4.3
Avg Rating
15%
No Website
8,244
Reviews
18
Little Rock, AR
25 American restaurant businesses
19
Score
4.4
Avg Rating
24%
No Website
7,018
Reviews
19
Pensacola, FL
20 American restaurant businesses
19
Score
4.4
Avg Rating
25%
No Website
912
Reviews
20
Springfield, IL
20 American restaurant businesses
19
Score
4.3
Avg Rating
25%
No Website
2,308
Reviews
Methodology
We analyzed data from 95 US cities with at least 20 American restaurant businesses to determine the best locations for entrepreneurs. Each city was scored on three key factors:
40% Weight
Market Demand
Total number of existing businesses - higher counts indicate proven demand.
30% Weight
Competition Quality
Average business rating - lower ratings suggest room for better operators.
30% Weight
Digital Gap
Percentage without websites - higher percentages signal untapped opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you rank the best cities for American restaurant businesses?
We use a weighted opportunity score based on market demand, local competition quality, and the share of businesses lacking a website.
Why does percentage without website matter?
A high percentage of businesses without websites often indicates a weaker digital market, which can be an opportunity for a better-run operator.
How often is this data updated?
The underlying data is refreshed regularly, and this page revalidates daily.